I have a MacBook Pro with Mac OS X 10.8
I imported videos from a Casio Exilim camera via USB
Videos are .avi files, which automatically play in QuickTime. However, only the audio plays, no video.
Downloaded CASIO avi importer.component from manufacturer, unzipped, and moved .component file to HD>System>QuickTime folder, restarted.
Still only getting audio, no video. Suggestions?
Let me see if I can explain this a better this time around...
1) An AVI file is QT compatible if, and only if, the file container is upported.
2) Compression formats used in the AVI container are QT compatible if, and only if, the codecs required for playback are installed on your system.
3) A particular QT-based app can play the AVI file if, and only if, the app is correctly programmed to associate the AVI extension with the required codec components AND can access them.
Example: Casio AVI files containing Motion JPEG compressed video and DVI ADPCM audio
a) The AVI file type is still supported (recognized) on current (Mountain Lion) systems.
b) DVI ADPCM audio appears to be supported by the MS ADPCM (WAV) codec still included as part of the Mac OS.
c) Motion JPEG video support was dropped as part of the Snow Leopard to Lion upgrade.
Therefore, this common type of AVI file would natively play audio but not video in QT players under Mountain Lion.
d) Installing the Perian support package allows both QT X and QT 7 players to access the Motion JPEG OpenDML codec providing video, as well as, audio playback of this AVI file (assuming there are no conflicting codecs simultaneously installed on your system).
With regard to iTunes...
e) For those who have not noticed, Apple has been quietly modifying iTunes from a QT 7 based app to a QT X based app since the release of Snow Leopard. As a result, the AVI file container is no longer supported as far as the iTunes file import module is concerned. If you attempt to add or drop import an AVI file to iTunes, it will be totally ignored.
f) Another change in the imort module seems to be a compression format filter test. Previously, an AVI file containing supported compression formats could sill be import if you simply re-wrapped the original data in an MOV file container. Unfortunately, this is no longer true as iTunes either cannot associate the MOV file extension with the codecs commonly used in the AVI file container or is no longer allowed to access the Perian codec component support (much like the iMovie apps since the introduction of iMovie '08). In any case, DVI ADPCM and/or Motion JPEG content re-wrapped to individual MOV containers will not import at this time under Mountain Lion.
g) On the other hand, if you convert the DVI ADPCM audio to the still "specifically" supported MS ADPCM (WAV) audio in either a WAV or MOV file container, it will be imported to iTunes. The same holds true if you convert the no longer supported Motion JPEG video to the still supported Photo JPEG compression format and place it in an MOV file container. In fact you can place both the WAV and Photo JPEG data in an MOV file and it will import and even play on an TV device. While other target conversions are also supported, I tend to agree with Cynthia4852 that simply targeting a specific device conversion provides the best approch to iTunes/Apple device compatibility.
Recap:
I) AVI is an easy to use but outdated, generic file container for which its originator dropped official support some eleven years ago owing to limitations on the container itself and its use with certain codecs. While the extension is still recognized, individual apps may or may not associate the extension with a specific required playback codec even if it is installed on your system.
II) Many of the codecs commonly used in the AVI container have never been available for use on the Mac and the number of currently available AVI codecs supported by Mac component installation packages is constantly diminishing with the introduction of each Mac system upgrade.
III) Many/Most multimedia users are reluctant to switch to more modern and efficient file container/codec combinations simply because of the massive amount of AVI content freely available on the internet and the vast amount of time and effort required to convert/update their already bulging media libraries.
IV) To be compatible with a given player, a media file's container type and the codecs used to create the file must be both supported and accessible by an app programmed to use them.
Conclusion:
If you are a Mac user, sooner or later you will likely be forced to either switch to Mac compatible files or switch to one of the dwindling number of media players that still support AVI playback. Based on the number of AVI conversion utilities currently being marketed on the internet, it appears software manufacturers are betting most users will "Convert or Perish." (Or should that be, "There is no future until you settle the past.")
